Myanmar’s Indawgyi, the largest lake in South East Asia, is eutropic in that, it is a fresh water ecosystem densely vegetated with aquatic flora such as :- Vallisnaria; Elodae; Spirogyar; Sargassum; Caulerpa; and many other algae.

We also learn that other the substratum of the lake is covered with odorous soft back rich clay and plant remains, and the depth of inundation varies from ‘3’ feet to ‘60’ feet.
The watershed mountain ecosystem of Indawgyi is composed of “Kumon” Range, “Wa Baw” Range, and a series of middle yoma mountain ranges, which run from the range of “Hindu Kush Himalaya” and also continuous with Tibetan plateau in the North. The altitude of these water shed mountains also varies greatly from ( 500 ) to ( 3500 ) feet.

Indawgyi is also home to a tremendous diversity of fish; amphibians; aquatic plants; hydroplanktons; and you’ll be surprised to know that these aquarium fish are endemic to Myanmar’s Indawgyi lake only. The water shed mountain ranges and the lake provide important resource for biological diversity including varied rich and complex lives of sub tropical mountain forest, and some endemism of fish germ plasam. If you look closely you’ll see that this type of fish shows a peculiars luminosity length wise on its body.

Another feature that is common along the western shore of Indawgyi is a clump of luxuriant growing- “Barrantonia” plants or “Kyee Nee” in Myanmar. This semi-aquatic vegetation growing in abundance, forms rich shore line ecosystem, with thick algae and “Sylvenia” fern ground cover.
They also play an important role in preventing shore erosion and encroachment and also this predominant habitat of “Kyee Ni” trees is being used as wintering, nesting and roosting sites by many kinds of birds.
The climate here is under control by the north west monsoon and can be divided into “3” seasons:- The rainy reason from middle of May to October, and dry season from early March to May.

Indawgyi lake also harbours more than ( 200 ) species of migratory birds. These winter visitors come in around October, and stay on till about April. Here are “Tufted ducks” from North Asia known as “Mauk Twere Bear Myo” in Myanmar, and a mixture of other migratory birds like Pochards and ducks.

The big lake is fed by about ( 30 ) large and small streams entering from various directions. The largest feeder streams are Namp Yin Kha” and Namp Tein” streams. The only outlet is the “Indaw Chaung” (or) “Chaung-Wa” stream at the North eastern part of the lake.

To reach “Chaung Wa” which is “32” miles from “Lonton”, you will have to take a boat to negotiate this meandering stream flowing through the Range Land and Reedbed.With the hope of finding more birds and unique features of this area, our MRTV team made it a point to visit this village “Chaung-Wa” meaning mouth of the stream.

It was quite clear who we left “Nyaung-Bin” village, but visibility become poor due to foggy conditions. However, in spite of the poor visibility, we were lucky to see the Internationally endangered- “Ferruginous Pochards”, coming from western part of central Asia;

“Western Marsh Harrier” or “Daung-Zoon Oat-Su” from West Asia,

“Purple Swamphens” (or) “Mare Nyo” and

cute little “Black Winged Stilts” (or) 𠇍ung-Lan Chey Dauk Nghet”.

Altogether it was a memorable back-drop with “Cattle Egrets” (or) “Kywe Kyaung Byaing” mixed with other “3” types of Egrets, clearing insects from the back of buffaloes.

And finally, after about ‘2’ hours we arrived at “Chaung-Wa” village which would be the beginning of our next study tour.